Vajimukha

Kuk Trap
Sandstone, 135 cm (4'5")
Khmer, 7th century
National Museum of Cambodia

This theriomorphic statue (Vajimukha just means "horse-head") might depict either Hayagriva or Kalki; both are avatars of Vishnu and destroyers of evil. Hayagriva protects the Vedas, while Kalki is the 10th avatar who will destroy the world at the end of time (cf. Japan's Bato Kannon in the Kanzeonji). In either case, the modeling of this statue is an exemplar of pre-Angkor Khmer sculpture.